Neck-yoke



' (No Model.)

J. ZIEGLBR. NECK YOKE.

No. 589,325. Patented Aug. 31, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB ZIEGLER, OF ARLINGTON, -NEBRASKA.

NECK-YbKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 589,325, dated August31, 1897.

Application filed January 12,1897. Serial No. 618,996. (No model.)

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ACOB ZIEGLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Arlington, in the county of Washington and State ofNebraska, have invented a new and useful Neck-Yoke, of which thefollowing is a specification. My invention relates to neck-yokes,particularly to the coupling-rings thereof, by which the neck-yoke issecured to the wagontongue. v

My object is to provide a neck-yoke coupling that will interlock withthe cap or tip on the tongue, that will tend to keep the neckyoke inproper vertical position, and that is adjustable to different sizes ofneok-yokes.

Accordingly my invention consists of the details and combinationsofparts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of aneck-yoke with my improved coupling. Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof.Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the coupling.

Similar n umerals of reference designate corresponding parts in theseveral figures of the drawings.

Reference-numeral l designates the ordinary neck-yoke. Secured to themiddle of said yoke is a pair of pivot-plates 2, one on the upper sideand one on theunder side, diametrically opposite to each other. Theseplates are curved on their under surface to correspond to the oval ofthe neck-yoke, to which they are secured by screws or bolts at eitherend, and are flat at their outer middle portion 3 to provide abearing-surface for the inside of ring 4, which is centrally perforatedat 5 5 through the enlarged portions 6 (5 to receive the stub-pivots 7 7of plates 2.

Ring 4: is preferably elliptical in shape, so as to accommodateneck-yokes of different widths, and at its lower outer portion carries atongue-collar S. This collar 8 is preferably formed in one piece withring 4, connected thereto by a strongneck portion 9, and projectsforward transversely thereto in a plane oblique to the ring-pivots 7.This collar Sis perforated at 10, in line with the wagontongue, so as toform a skew collar projecting normally back from the bottom of thetongue to the top. At its bottom edge collar 8 is thickened and providedwith a rearwardly-extended hook 12, whose upturned end 13 is adapted tonormally engage with .the retaining-lip formed ordinarily on the underside of the wagon-tongue tip or cap.

In use my neck-yoke coupling is secured, as shown, on a neck-yoke at itsmiddle portion, The neck-yoke is then turned vertically and collar 8 issleeved over the end of the tongue till the hook 12 comes opposite theunder lip of the tongue, when the neck-yoke is turned over horizontallyon top of the tongue. This movement engages the upturned end 13 of thehook behind the said lip and secures the neck-yoke against accidentaldisengagement from the tongue. The fact that collar 8 is not in linewith the pivots of the ring 4, but slants outwardly therefrom and issecured thereto at the lower front end thereof, prevents the neck-yokefrom rolling over out of its proper vertical position by the pull of thehorses;

I believe myself to be the first to devise a neck-yoke couplingconsisting of two parts or members rigidly connected together, one partembracing and detachably engaging the tongue and the other made in theform of a ring to encircle the neck-yoke and provide a bearing therefor.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of this invention.

What 1 claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

A neck-yoke coupling comprising a collar designed to encircle a tongue,disposed at a backward inclination and provided at its bottom with ahook extending rearward and adapted to interlock detachably with the tipof the tongue, the rearwardly-inclined neck extending upward from thetop of the collar and rigid with the same, and the rearwardlyextendinglongitudinallydisposed ring arranged horizontal and formed integral withthe neck and being rigid with the inclined collar to prevent theneck-yoke from rolling my own I have hereto affixed my signature in overout of its proper vertical posit-ion by the the presence of twowitnesses.

pull of the horses, said neck-yoke being pivr oted within the ring at apoint in rear of the JACOB -AIEGLER' 5 collar and having its pivotdisposed verti- \Vitnesses:

cally, substantially as described. H. WV. SCHOETTGER,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as THOS. FINNELL.

